With the mayor at the helm, Juan Franco, La Línea took to the streets this Friday to demand an agreement that saves the situation of so many families, so many workers, who cross every day to Gibraltar. A situation that has been going on since June 2016, when the British decided, by a narrow margin, to leave the European Union. A path that had never been traveled before and that left many questions in the air. One of those questions has been left for last, what happens with Gibraltar.
And the four parties involved want a solution, that a soft border be maintained in a continental territory. The historical dispute, Spain’s centuries-old claim for the Rock, marks all the meetings. In fact, officially, the Spanish Government does not historically recognize the Gibraltar Executive as its counterpart. Although all of this is being moderated to find a true agreement and in practice Spain is speaking with Fabian Picardo, the prime of the Rock.
The point is that no agreements are reached. Once again, Europe, it seems, will fail to meet the date it had set, November 10, for border controls to return to Gibraltar. An agreement is what should prevent it. However, there are other elements on the table, such as the transparency of Gibraltar in its day-to-day operations, or preventing it from being an uncontrolled entry point for the British into Schengen territory. It must be remembered that once one steps onto Union territory, that assigned to Schengen, a citizen can move freely. So the agreement also involves the rest of the European states.
But day-to-day life, eating, maintaining jobs, does not know as much about treatments as it does about emergencies. For this reason, the demonstration held this Friday is historic. Around 12,000 people gathered in front of the Gate, according to data from the City Council. The route has even had to be changed due to the influx of people. Even members of the corporation in the opposition of PSOE and PP have joined this march.
The mayor of the city has once again demanded a solution, but above all, a plan B if one is not reached. The mayor has also insisted on the need for employment and training plans, achieving a special tax regime and addressing the situation of workers in Gibraltar and their pensions, among other issues.
